List Rules Vote up the rock bands you think are most famous right now. If you add to the list, ensure the band is still active.
With so many great new bands out, as well as all-time greats who still tour, determining the most famous rock bands in the world right now is no easy task. Not only must you consider the top bands from the 21st century (even the most hipster bands), but you also have quite a few not-so-washed-up groups producing new albums and playing all over the world today. So, of all the bands out right now, both old and new, who do you think is the most famous?
From more modern rock bands like Twenty One Pilots and the ever-popular Radiohead to bands who peaked decades ago, such as Journey and U2, you have many to consider in determining just who is the most famous. While it's hard for a 21st century band to compare to U2 (whether you like them or not), this isn't a list of the best bands ever. With this, there may be more fans of the Foo Fighters than those of Bono. So, who is the most famous rock band out right now? That's up to you fans to decide.
Check out the list of active rock bands below and vote up those who you think are the most famous. You can also add any bands that may be missing from the list.
list ordered by
1
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ColdplayA Rush of Blood to the Head, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Parachutes Coldplay are a British rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed under the name Pectoralz, Guy ...more
2
47 47
Foo FightersWasting Light, The Colour and the Shape, Foo Fighters Foo Fighters is an American rock band, formed in Seattle in 1994. It was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the death of Kurt Cobain and the resulting ...more
3
57 59
Imagine DragonsNight Visions, Continued Silence EP, Night Visions Live Imagine Dragons is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Imagine Dragons' lineup consists of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne "Wing" Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and ...more
4
45 45
MetallicaMaster of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California. Metallica was formed in 1981 when vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield responded to an advertisement posted by drummer ...more
5
42 42
Green DayAmerican Idiot, Dookie, 21st Century Breakdown Green Day is an American rock band formed in 1986. Green Day's members include Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. Green Day was originally part of the punk scene at the DIY ...more
6
39 39
Red Hot Chili PeppersCalifornication, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Stadium Arcadium The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other ...more
7
38 38
RadioheadKid A, OK Computer, The Bends Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Phil Selway and Ed O'Brien. Radiohead released ...more
8
55 59
Twenty One PilotsVessel, Twenty One Pilots, Regional At Best Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio. The band was formed in 2009 and consists of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. They put out two self-released albums, Twenty One Pilots ...more
9
37 39
U2The Joshua Tree, War, Achtung Baby U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.. U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to ...more
10
32 36
Panic! at the DiscoA Fever You Can't Sweat Out, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! Panic! at the Disco is an American band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2004 and features the current lineup of vocalist and guitarist Brendon Urie and bassist Dallon Weekes, who are supported ...more
11
28 36
MuseOrigin of Symmetry, Absolution, The 2nd Law Muse are an English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard. They are known for their energetic and ...more
12
17 22
Maroon 5Songs About Jane, Hands All Over, Payphone Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band that originated in Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1994 as Kara's Flowers while its members were still in high school and originally ...more
13
28 38
Pearl JamTen, Vs., Vitalogy Pearl Jam is an American rock band, formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has comprised Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament. The ...more
14
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Matt Maloney added acdc
15
26 37
Arctic MonkeysWhatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Favourite Worst Nightmare Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. The band consists of Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O'Malley, and Matt Helders. Former band member ...more
16
28 40
EaglesHotel California, Eagles Greatest Hits, Volume 2 The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner. With five number-one singles, six Grammy Awards, five American ...more
17
23 34
ParamoreRiot!, All We Know Is Falling, brand new eyes Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York. The ...more
18
22 34
JourneyEscape, Frontiers, Evolution Journey is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest ...more
19
20 34
Kings of LeonAha Shake Heartbreak, Only by the Night, Youth & Young Manhood Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000. The band is composed of brothers Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill and Jared Followill, with their cousin ...more
20
19 34
Fall Out BoyInfinity on High, Save Rock and Roll, From Under the Cork Tree Fall Out Boy is an American rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe ...more
21
18 34
Depeche ModeViolator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Music for the Masses Depeche Mode are an English electronic band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke. Depeche Mode ...more
22
12 29
Five Finger Death PunchAmerican Capitalist, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 Five Finger Death Punch is an American metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Formed in 2005, the group's name is derived from classic martial arts cinema. The band originally consisted of vocalist ...more
23
13 31
Breaking BenjaminPhobia, We Are Not Alone, Saturate Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band founded in 1998 by Benjamin Burnley in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Having outlasted significant lineup changes, Burnley is the sole constant member of ...more
24
10 28
The LumineersThe Lumineers, The Lumineers EP, Winter The Lumineers are a folk rock band, based in Denver, Colorado. The two founding members and songwriters of the Lumineers are Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites. Josh Fraites, the brother of ...more
25
14 35
30 Seconds to MarsA Beautiful Lie, 30 Seconds to Mars, Love Thirty Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević. The band's debut album, 30 Seconds ...more
26
11 30
Arcade FireFuneral, The Suburbs, Neon Bible Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard ...more
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11 30
The 1975The 1975, Music for Cars, Sex The 1975 is an English indie rock band formed in Manchester. The group consists of Matthew Healy, Adam Hann, George Daniel, and Ross MacDonald. They have released four EPs, while their ...more
28
12 32
Portugal. The ManIn the Mountain in the Cloud, Church Mouth, Waiter: "You Vultures!" Portugal. The Man is an American rock band from Alaska. The group consists of John Gourley, Zach Carothers, Kyle O'Quin, and Jason Sechrist. Gourley and Carothers met and began playing music ...more
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8 28
X AmbassadorsLove Songs Drug Songs, The Reason X Ambassadors is an American alternative rock band from Ithaca, New York.
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7 28
Alabama ShakesBoys & Girls, iTunes Session, Alabama Shakes Alabama Shakes is an American rock band formed in Athens, Alabama, in 2009. The group consists of lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, keyboard ...more
KaleoKaleo, Glasshouse, Vor í vaglaskógi Kaleo is an Icelandic indie pop / rock / folk band established in 2012 and their first major public appearance Iceland Airwaves Music Festival in November 2012. Their fame came through "Vor ...more
not on the list? add item #33
List Rules: Vote up the rock bands you think are most famous right now. If you add to the list, ensure the band is still active.
